Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 46
सेवातत्त्वप्रश्नः — The Question of Whom to Serve (Sevā) for the Removal of Suffering
ध्यानयज्ञात्परं नास्ति ध्यानं ज्ञानस्य साधनम् । यतस्समरसं स्वेष्टं यागी ध्यानेन पश्यति
dhyānayajñātparaṃ nāsti dhyānaṃ jñānasya sādhanam | yatassamarasaṃ sveṣṭaṃ yāgī dhyānena paśyati
ধ্যান-যজ্ঞতকৈ শ্ৰেষ্ঠ যজ্ঞ নাই; ধ্যানেই জ্ঞানৰ সাধন। কিয়নো উপাসকে ধ্যানৰ দ্বাৰা নিজৰ ইষ্ট শিৱক সমৰস—একাত্ম—ৰূপে দর্শন কৰে।
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti
FAQs
It declares dhyāna (meditative absorption) as the supreme yajña because it directly produces jñāna—liberating insight—by which the devotee realizes Shiva as the innermost, non-separate Reality (Pati) beyond mere external rites.
In Shaiva practice, the Liṅga and Saguna forms steady the mind and focus devotion; this verse points to their culmination—inner worship—where meditation reveals Shiva not only as an adored form but as the ‘one essence’ pervading the worshipper and the worshipped.
Prioritize dhyāna-yajña: sit in purity (often with bhasma/tripuṇḍra and rudrākṣa), perform mantra-japa—especially the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—and contemplate Shiva in the heart until the sense of separation dissolves.